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Trip from Crystal, MN to Saint Paul, MN

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

28m

Distance

18.8 mi

30 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 26m ★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 27m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Download GPX
solid material whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an ordered lattice extending in all three spatial dimensions

Crystal, MN

Wikimedia Commons

capital of the state of Minnesota, United States; county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Crystal to Saint Paul is a straightforward 18.8-mile journey that typically takes about 28 minutes to complete. Because this route is entirely contained within the Midwest, you will stay within a familiar regional landscape the whole way. Given the short duration, this is a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stops and minimal logistical planning. You can expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the excursion, making it a very budget-friendly transit between these two Minnesota cities. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick visit, the trip is efficient and simple to navigate.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 9.3 mi 12m
MN 100 3.5 mi 4m
I 394 2.2 mi 2m
42nd Avenue North 0.5 mi 1m
Saint Peter Street 0.5 mi 1m
10th Street West 0.2 mi <1m
Kellogg Boulevard West <0.1 mi <1m
Wabasha Street North <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 9.3 mi, about 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crystal, MN and Saint Paul, MN.

1

Start on CR 9

0.5 mi · 1 min · 42nd Avenue North
2

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward MN 100 South Use the right lane.
3

Merge onto MN 100

3.5 mi · 4 min · MN 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward I 394 West, I 394 East: Minneapolis Use the slight right lane.
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 53 sec
Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 394

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 394
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 9 sec
Exit 8B Toward I 94 East, I 94 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Exit 8B Toward I 94 East Use the slight right lane.
10

Merge onto I 94; MN 55

9.3 mi · 12 min · I 94; MN 55
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 43 sec
Exit 241B Toward 10th Street, 5th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward 10th Street
13

Continue on 10th Street West

0.2 mi · 34 sec · 10th Street West
14

Turn right onto Saint Peter Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Saint Peter Street
15

At end of road, turn left onto Kellogg Boulevard West

394 ft · 21 sec · Kellogg Boulevard West
Use the left / right lanes.
16

Turn left onto Wabasha Street North

214 ft · 9 sec · Wabasha Street North
Use the left lane.
17

Arrive at destination

Wabasha Street North

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.3 and 17.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
4.3 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward I 394 West, I 394 East: Minneapolis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 394 West, I 394 East: Minneapolis
7
4.5 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 394 East: Minneapolis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 394 East: Minneapolis
8
7.6 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward I 94 East, I 94 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 8B Toward I 94 East, I 94 West
8
7.7 mi into trip | ~11m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 8B Toward I 94 East
8
17.4 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward 10th Street, 5th Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 241B Toward 10th Street, 5th Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.80 one way

$5.60 round trip

$3.78/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.07 $3.01 $6.03
premium $4.53 $3.35 $6.71
diesel $5.61 $4.15 $8.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.6 0 $1.97 $0.90
Efficient EV 4.7 0 $1.65 $0.75
EV Truck/SUV 7.5 0 $2.63 $1.20

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Crystal, MN

Late night in Crystal on Tuesday

Local time

4:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Widespread Fog then Mostly Cloudy

NW 0 to 5 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Dense Fog Advisory

Dense Fog Advisory issued April 14 at 6:26AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

Dense Fog Advisory

Dense Fog Advisory issued April 14 at 6:26AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

Destination

Saint Paul, MN

Late night in Saint Paul on Tuesday

Local time

4:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Widespread Fog then Mostly Cloudy

NW 5 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Dense Fog Advisory

Dense Fog Advisory issued April 14 at 6:26AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

Dense Fog Advisory

Dense Fog Advisory issued April 14 at 6:26AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

28m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This highway-focused drive relies heavily on major thoroughfares, with 80% of your time spent on roads like I-94, MN-100, and I-394. You will experience a fast-paced environment, as the route is designed for speed rather than leisurely cruising. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-94, which spans 9.3 miles of the journey. Because of this heavy reliance on interstate infrastructure, the drive feels like a standard, functional highway commute. Expect a steady, streamlined experience that prioritizes getting you to your destination quickly rather than offering a winding, scenic backroad adventure.

80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.3 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and MN 100. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 18.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 18.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 9.3 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Saint Paul, MN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Saint Paul, MN before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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